phone call

[leo9902]

I got a phone call today saying they was from Microsoft windows and that it seems like someones been trying to hack into my computer and they wanted me to turn on my computer while they ran through with me telling me what to do to make the computer safe but i was suspicious and asked there name and for a phone number so i could ring up to check which he gave me a number but it dosent match up with the number for customer services so said i did nt want to go through with it. Has anyone else had a phone call like this ?

[TheNovice]

tell them to go away...it's a scam and whatever you do, don't give them any personal details

[Hocum]

I've heard of this but just how can they take remote control of your computer over the phone?

[Mrsspagnoli57]

Scam with a capital 'S'. This has been going the rounds for well over two years. I was told they had identified a number of virus attacks on my computer. Told them I didn't have a computer and they soon started hemming and hawwing and then the line went dead- pressed 1471 to hear 'We do not have the callers number'. Any unsolicited call such as this is a huge lie. Don't let them scare you-they know nothing about you and are just trying it on.

[mike11111]

The only way they can take over your computer remotely is if you log on to the website they give you and also enter the password they give over the phone. I used to work for BT and we did this legitimately if customers were having difficulty in installing items, especially wireless. We would always ask customers to close down anything they did not want us to see.

[VHG]

I work form home (semi retired) and I have had at least half a dozen of these calls.

The words do vary, but they always say they are from "Microsoft" and they say things like your PC has viruses, or is giving out error messages etc.

They will often try to take control of your PC (and they can then steal info from your PC).

They also sometimes ask you to sign up for their "PC Support" which can cost hundreds of pounds, and of course they want your credit card number.

If I get a call like this I scream LUCK OFF (or words to that effect) down the phone.

[boxtops]

Leo, definitely a scam, this has been reported on this site many times. Theya re tryng it on, hoping you'll believe them. Nobody would know there is something the matter with your computer, remotely. Tell them to clear off. Better still, get yourself signed up with the TPS so you get a lot less cold calling phone calls.

[solvitquick]

Do not touch them, just put the phone down. If it is the scam I am thinking of they: (i) are indo/pakistani; (ii) they are not microsoft but claim to upload software onto your computer if it loses all microsoft contact; (iii) they access your computer by getting you to switch on then persuade you to supply all the info they need to carry out the upload; (iv) the sting in the tail is when they want your debit card details and then persuade you to pay for 5-years of "active" software - about £270; (v) sure they upload your computer with software; (vi) they do not raid your account thereafter, being happy to have sold you their bum software. I know of this one from a distant friend who wrote to me over a year after having fallen for it. Anything sound familiar about this leo9902?

[solvitquick]

Sorry Leo their opening lines were apparently about errors/hackers or something like that. My response to my friend was that his loss of nearly £300 was probably worth it for the lesson it tought him. These claims of faults etc., can be sorted by PC World for about £50 if they really exist and are identified by you alone.

[JustJenni]

i came home to my dad being on the phone to the people from this scam trying to get on his bank account thank god he couldnt remember the past word, i made him hang up straight away and when they called back gave them an ear full and not to call us again. dont do it and be careful not to give them anything i had to go back throught our computer and delete to programs they managed to put on, my dad is not aloud to talk to anyone about the pc on the phone now.

[Zacs-Master]

but i was suspicious.....
Mmm.